British Board of Film Classification (BBFC), independent body for the regulation of films in cinema and on video and DVD in the United Kingdom, based in Soho, London. Originally established as the British Board of Film Censors, in 1912, the organization was set up by the film industry to bring consistency to censorship standards on a national basis, which until that point had been imposed solely by local authorities and as such were widely variable. Local authorities retain the final say on what age people must be for admission to films at cinemas and they have the power to impose their own censorship of films, but they generally accept the rulings of the BBFC.

In 1985 the British home secretary gave the BBFC the power to classify by law the suitability of video recordings (including graphic video games) for sale or hire in the United Kingdom. This prompted a slight name change for the BBFC to its present name, reflecting the majority of its work being in classification of films rather than censorship. A classification system was devised by the BBFC to provide guidance on the suitability of films for the public (see Film Censorship). Each film the body rates receives a certificate from this system and advice is offered to the public on whom the film is suitable for. Film distributors pay for certification and certified films are unlikely to be prosecuted under the Obscene Publications Act by the Director of Public Prosecutions in the United Kingdom. The BBFC also has the power to cut certain scenes from films if it deems them unsuitable under its guidelines or liable to influence the audience adversely.